Son of Thomas, born 1608. Mentioned in letter of John Bluette of Groton as ‘my scholar’ [“Life & Letters John Winthrop”]37

Emigrated to America by 1631 when he was a member of the Boston, MA church. Freeman, 6 Nov 1632. Dismissed to Ipswich Church, 27 Jan 1638/9.

Freeman 6 November 163238, Vol. 1, pg. 367

He was a soldier in the Pequot expedition and was called Sergeant to 1664, and Ensign thereafter.

Ensign Thomas French of Ipswich was in New England as early as 1637 when he was a soldier in the Pequot War. In 1672 he petitioned the colonial government for a grant of land northwest of Salisbury, in behalf of himself and eight other Ipswich men who had seen service in that campaign. French is first mentioned i the Ipswich records in 1638 when he was designated Thomas French, Jr. Thomas French, Sr., who came to Ipswich from Boston in 1635 with his wife Alice, has been confused with him, notably by Mr. Hammett, the distinguished Ipswich genealogist. Whether or not any relationship existed between them is not determined. The elder man was a member of the Boston church in 1631, a freeman on November 6, 1632, was dismissed to the Ipswich church in 1638, and administration on his estate was granted to his widow Alice on 5: 9: 1639. She subsequently married Ensign Thomas Howlett of Ipswich and Topsfield.

Thomas French’s chief public duties were military and judicial. lHe was a subscriber to Major Dennison’s compensation in 1648. He is called Sergeant French until 1664, and Ensign French henceforth. In 1664 he testified to the mutinous behavior of Samuel Hunt and others during the training of the Ipswich troop on Wolfpen plain. He served on the trial jury of the County Court in 1651, 1652, 1657-1660, 1662, 1664, 1669, 1672, 1674-1675, and 1678, and on a jury of inquest in 1676. He is listed as a voter in town affairs in 1679 and as a commoner in 1678.

As with most of the adult male population of Ipswich, Thomas French signed the petition to keep Mr. John Winthrop, Jr. in town, 21 June 1637508, Vol 3, pg 433

Ensign Thomas French and Thomas French, Jr. were sureties on the bond of Samuel French when young Samuel was charged with a misdemeanor wth Lydia Browne at court 26 March 1667174, Vol 3, pg 398